User talk:Awickert/Sandbox/Methods of geology

Hi Awickert, this looks good. I am a bit shy to edit a page in your user space, so I will put the result of my personal brainstorm session here. If you like it you can put it in the sandbox yourself or cherrypick from it.

I think it is important to keep in mind we want to show how geologist work, instead of giving a sort of manual or course in geology. Let's keep it simple though, too much detail makes it unclear and should go into the subarticles. I would divide "methods of geology" into four parts, containing the following concepts/methods:

1) the study of rocks (petrography, petrology, mineralogy)

• rock types (explaining about the three rock types and perhaps a few subdivisions, something about rock textures, something about the rock-forming minerals, ores). Theory on rock formation can be included in the "Modern geology" section (Bowen's series, the rock cycle and all processes it includes). It is a theory, not a method.
• thin sections, basic explanation of optical mineralogy, perhaps discuss a few lab methods as well (SEM, spectrometry, EMP?)

2) the study of rock strata (stratigraphy, sedimentology)

• rock strata (only in sedimentary or volcanic rocks), Steno's laws, top-bottom criteria, unconformities, stratigraphic hiatuses
• concept of sedimentary facies, lithostratigraphy
• the study of basin fill and basin development (wedging of sedimentary strata, onlap, toplap, influence of the relative sea level on that, etc)
• relative dating techniques (index fossils, magnetic polarities, and others), absolute dating techniques

3) the study of geological structures (field geology)

• folds, faults, the concept of outcrops and how geologists map them
• intrusions and cross-cutting relationships (igneous rocks in relation to others)
• stereographic methods in geology

4) the study of tectonic phases (structural geology, petrology)

• concept of metamorphic and tectonic phases
• tectonic rocks and their structures and textures
• concept of metamorphic facies, index minerals and metamorphic gradients
• relative and absolute dating of (micro-)structures and minerals in metamorphic rocks

That's all I can think of right now for the "methods" section. At the "modern geology" section we could include a new section on the rock cycle and maybe one on geochemical cycles (or is that geochemistry?). This is a huge task and especially on field geology, we need better figures too. If you like I can help writing, drawing, etc. Tell me when and where I can do something and if I have time, I will help! Woodwalker (talk) 21:40, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for all the help! I like your outline better than mine; I'm going to start working with it. And no need to feel shy about editing my userspace - you're invitied, if you like. And anything that you could do for the geology article would be an improvement. I'll tell you if I think of anything in particular. Awickert (talk) 22:41, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

New tack

I'm thinking of charting a slightly new course. I'll make the methods section about the actual methods, but won't discuss any theory (or at least, as little as possible) there. I'll make a section on theory/concepts, and put those there, possibly organized by discipline. Awickert (talk) 04:49, 30 January 2009 (UTC)